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Image quality test results have been added to the Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 STF GM OSS Lens page.
 
You are going to be impressed with these results.
 
This is a unique lens. The product images show that this lens has a manual aperture ring denoted "T", for T-stops, showing the actual amount of light transmission. While this is technically an f/2.8 lens, the T-stop ring stops at f/5.6 and f/5.6 is the widest aperture selectable in-camera. The reason has to do with the STF (Smooth Trans Focus) feature including an optical apodization lens element. More information coming.
 
The Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 STF GM OSS Lens is in stock at B&H | Adorama | Amazon USA | WEX
 
Rent the Sony FE 100mm f/2.8 STF GM OSS Lens from Lensrentals.

In addition to Image quality test results, vignetting, flare, and distortion test results along with specs, measurements, and standard product images are now available on the Sigma 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports Lens page.
 
Note that the product images are cropped hard due to my choice to keep them in the smaller lens comparison format where this lens can be compared to the 100-400mm lens class and others.
 
The Sigma 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports Lens is in stock or coming soon at B&H | Adorama | Amazon US | WEX
 
Rent the Sigma 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports Lens from Lensrentals.

Just posted: Tamron 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 Lens Review.
 
Do you want an f/2.8 aperture and image stabilization in a full-frame ultra-wide-angle focal length lens? This lens and its predecessor are still your only options.
 
The Tamron 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 Lens is in stock at B&H | Adorama | Amazon USA | WEX
 
Rent the Tamron 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 Lens from Lensrentals.

That is a question I struggled with and, based on emails coming in, many of you are also feeling the pull to move to the R-series, or at least bring one into an existing kit.
 
What We Know
 

• The Canon EOS R is a great-performing camera, full-featured with a great price for what it offers.
• The Canon EOS RP is tiny, well-featured, and extremely-well-priced.
• Lenses are critically important and the RF Lenses available now are very impressive with extremely high image quality, ultra-wide apertures, and/or compact size and light weight.
• The RF lenses slated for delivery later this year promise at least equal to the impressiveness of the ones we already have available.
• More EOS R camera models are promised, including pro models.

You Should Buy a Canon R-Series Mirrorless Camera Now If
 

• You want to start taking advantage of the RF lenses and/or want to keep your kit optimized to the best-available lenses. If a lens you want to use now to is available in an RF mount version, this is a good time to consider buying into the R system.
• You want the advantages of an electronic viewfinder, including clear, focused-to-your-eye image preview and review in bright daylight, and don't mind the EVF disadvantages, including a brief video pause when an image is being captured.
• You want incredibly-low-light AF capabilities.
• You want improved AF accuracy with third party lenses.
• You want to learn how to use the mirrorless models. While the learning curve is not big, the fun of learning something new is.
• You primarily photograph landscapes, street, still life, family and events.
• You want the benefit of eye-tracking focus, especially useful with wide aperture lenses.
• You want to reduce the size and weight of your kit.
• You want to take advantage of the up-to-$500 rebates currently available.

You Should Wait to Buy a Canon R-Series Mirrorless Camera If
 

• You primarily photograph sports and wildlife. The EOS R's frame rate is mediocre and a brief EVF video pause during each image capture makes tracking erratic-moving fast action challenging. The Canon EOS-1D X Mark II or the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV are currently better choices for capturing fast, erratic action.
• You don't see any advantages to the EOS R-series camera and RF lens system over what you are using now. If nothing about the new cameras and lenses interests you, stay with a DSLR.
• You require an economy kit lens with a native RF mount. I expect an inexpensive RF kit lens to show up at some point, but ... an adapted EF lens is currently the best low-cost option for a general-purpose zoom lens.
• You require ultra-high resolution. We do not yet have a Canon EOS 5Ds R-equivalent resolution option available in the R-series. The EOS R's 30.3 MP resolution is very high, but getting higher resolution in a Canon R-series camera requires waiting.
• You require dual memory card slots.
• You require IBIS (In Body Image Stabilization). Of course, most of the RF lenses have either an ultra-wide aperture or image stabilization reducing the need for stabilization in-camera.
• Current video capabilities are not adequate.

Note that there will always be a new camera model coming. How long it takes to get here is a key component to decision-making and with the manufacturers not sharing their future plans, that component is an unknown and a lot of years of current model usage could potentially be had before an alternative arrives. New models usually bring new features that are useful, at least to some, but they also typically have higher price tags, at least higher than a similar model being replaced or higher than a model positioned lower in the lineup. New models make no difference to how current models perform – a camera owned today will continue to perform the same tomorrow. If you can make use of a current model now, now is a good time to get that model.
 
The Canon EOS R is in stock at B&H | Adorama | Amazon USA | WEX
 
The Canon EOS RP is in stock at B&H | Adorama | Amazon USA | WEX

With a Canon EOS Rebel SL3 (EOS 250D, EOS Kiss 10, EOS 200D II) in hand, it is time to set up the camera for use. Following are the 32 steps I took to make an out-of-the-box Canon EOS Rebel SL3 ready for use.
 

1. Open the box, find the battery, place it in the charger and plug it in.
2. While the battery is charging, unpack the other items you want from the box.
3. Download and install the Canon Solution Disk software on your computer, gaining support for the latest camera(s). Canon Digital Photo Pro (DPP) and EOS Utility are the options I manually include in the install.
4. Attach the neck strap.
5. Insert the battery (after charging completes) and power the camera on.
6. Insert a memory card.
7. Set the camera's mode to Av, Tv or M (some modes provide only a small subset of available menu options).
8. Scroll through all of the menu tabs to configure the camera as follows:
9. Shooting settings, Tab 1: Image quality: Use top dial to set RAW to "RAW" and Cross Keys to set JPEG to "-" (RAW image files provide the highest quality and are especially valuable for post processing work)
10. Shooting settings, Tab 1: Image review: 4 sec. (or sometimes off to increase shooting speed in the field)
11. Shooting settings, Tab 1: Release shutter without card: Disable (only in a retail store do you want to press the shutter release without saving the image file, leaving this option enabled will burn you someday)
12. Shooting settings, Tab 1: Lens Aberration Correction: All options "OFF" (though Chromatic Aberration correction is a good option to leave enabled for most)
13. Shooting settings, Tab 4: White balance: AWB W (White) (I seldom use another white balance setting while shooting, though I often adjust modestly during post processing)
14. Shooting settings, Tab 4: Picture Style: Neutral with Strength = 1 (Note: the low contrast "Neutral" picture style provides a histogram on the back of the camera that most-accurately shows me blown highlights and blocked shadows on the camera LCD. I usually change the Picture Style to "Standard" in DPP after capture.)
15. Shooting settings, Tab 5: Long exp. noise reduction: Auto (when active, LENR captures a dark image that is used to correct the long exposure noise in the primary image)
16. Shooting settings, Tab 5: High ISO speed NR: Off (or Low) (noise reduction is destructive to images details - I prefer to add noise reduction sparingly during post processing)
17. Playback settings, Tab 1: Histogram disp: RGB (I want to see the graph for individual color channels)
18. Function settings, Tab 1: Format card (always format memory cards in-camera — after all contained images are stored elsewhere of course)
19. Function settings, Tab 1: Auto Rotate: On computer (only) (images are properly rotated when viewed on a computer, but are always oriented to fill the LCD when viewed on the camera)
20. Function settings, Tab 2: Date/Time/Zone: make correct for your location
21. Function settings, Tab 3: Beep: Disable (no one wants to hear your camera constantly beeping)
22. Function settings, Tab 5: Copyright information: enter as desired
23. Function settings, Tab 5: Custom Functions settings(C.Fn): C.Fn I: Exposure: 2: ISO expansion: On (required for setting ISO to 51200)
24. Shooting settings, Tab 3: Photo ISO speed settings: ISO 51200 (this upper limit is only being used for testing, set to your tolerance)
25. Function settings, Tab 5: Custom Functions settings(C.Fn): C.Fn I: Exposure: 4: Exposure comp. auto cancel: Disable (I'll decide when exposure compensation should be canceled)
26. Function settings, Tab 5: Custom Functions settings(C.Fn): C.Fn I: Operation/Others: 11: Retract lens on power off (avoids having a carefully-selected focus distance reset when camera auto powers off)
27. Display level settings, Tab 1: Shooting screen: Standard (Guided is useful for beginners)
28. Display level settings, Tab 1: Menu displaye: Standard (Guided is useful for beginners)
29. Display level settings, Tab 1: Mode guide: Disable (Enabled is useful for beginners)
30. Display level settings, Tab 1: Feature guide: Disable (Enabled is useful for beginners)
31. My Menu: Add the first tab; Register the following options for Tab 1: Format card, Mirror lockup, Date/Time/Zone (great for monitoring what time it is), Expo.comp./AEB, Long exp. noise reduction, Sensor cleaning (nothing in my My Menu is found on the Quick Control display as those functions are already quickly accessed)
32. With a lens mounted and a subject focused on, adjust the viewfinder diopter until the scene is sharp

I of course make additional menu and other setting changes based on current shooting scenarios, but this list covers my initial camera setup process.
 
To copy this configuration would mean that you intend to shoot similar to how I shoot - including shooting in RAW-only format. While my setup works great for me, your best use of this list may be for tweaking your own setup.
 
If you can't remember your own menu setup parameters, keeping an up-to-date list such as this one is a good idea. Anytime your camera is reset-to-factory state for some reason, such as when being serviced, you will be ready to restore your setup quickly while ensuring that you do not miss an important setting. If you purchase another same or similar camera, you will be able to quickly set it up.
 
More Information
 
Canon EOS Rebel SL3
 
The Canon EOS Rebel SL3 is in stock at B&H | Amazon | Adorama | WEX.

Just posted: Really Right Stuff TFC/TVC-24/24L Mk2 Tripod Review.
 
This is my second-most-used tripod with only the Really Right Stuff TVC-34L Mk2 Tripod being used more frequently. These two tripods are practically the same except for a smaller and lighter frame, a lower weight capacity, and a lower price. Thus, a majority of the reviews are shared.
 
The Really Right Stuff TFC/TVC-24/24L Mk2 Tripod is in stock at B&H.

In an unusual move earlier this year, Canon showed (some of) their cards in a development announcement. Mock-ups of these new lenses were on display at a press event held just before that announcement and sharing some pictures from that event has been on my to-do list since. Note that all of the images shared in this article can be clicked on to see a significantly larger version.
 
The lead image shows all of the 2019 RF lenses and R-series cameras. From left to right in this image (new lens quotes are from Canon Europe) are the:
 

• Canon RF 35mm f/1.8mm f/1.8 IS STM Macro Lens
• Canon RF 50mm f/1.2 L USM Lens
• Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L USM Lens
  A large aperture mid-telephoto prime lens, offering the ultimate performance for advanced and professional portrait photographers.
• Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L USM DS Lens
  (not shown, but looks identical to RF 85 non-DS): A unique high-performance lens offering a combination of beautifully smooth defocused background bokeh and a super faster aperture to produce breath-taking portraits.
• Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8 L IS USM Lens
  Offering wide angle, fast aperture and high performance in a single package this lens is ideal for a range of uses including architecture, interiors or landscapes.
• Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8 L IS USM Lens
  The high-performance standard zoom for professionals and photo enthusiasts shooting portraits, landscapes, documentary or weddings.
• Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM Lens
  The must-have lens for any professional photographer shooting weddings, sport or wildlife. This high-speed medium telephoto zoom will be the daily go-to lens for numerous occasions.
• Canon RF 24-240mm F4-6.3 IS USM Lens
  This compact, affordable 10x zoom is a multipurpose travel lens offering a versatile range of focal lengths and practical size and performance.
• Canon RF 28-70mm f/2L USM Lens
• Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens
• In front are the Canon EOS R and Canon EOS RP with the RF 24-105mm and RF 35mm lenses respectively shown mounted.

Not surprising is that the RF lenses show many similarities to each other. The black L-zooms all feature an ideally-positioned (toward the rear of the lens, though not as far back as their EF counterparts) zoom ring and all but the RF 24-240mm lens feature a forward-positioned control ring. The two or three rings on each lens have a differing tactile surface and the feel for each ring purpose is similar throughout the lineup with the control ring being knurled. Notice that the RF 24-240 does not have a dedicated focus ring. It is expected that the control ring will optionally be able to serve that function.
 
I was told to expect RF lens image quality to be as good or better than that of the nearest equivalent EF lens with reduced size being another benefit in some cases.
 
Note that the lenses shown on display boxes are lens mount-deep in their holders. Still, we can discern some of the sizes. I'll start with the RF 70-200 as I added a sizing prop next to it. Canon USA was very protective of the new lens mockups the Canon Inc. engineers brought with them (we could not touch them and they used white gloves to move them), but with reluctance, I was permitted to place a phone next to the tiny 70-200.
 

 
The iPhone 7 measures 5.44" (138mm) in length. If the phone were completely upright, it would about match the lens in length. What if your 70-200 f/2.8 was nearly as small as your EF 16-35 f/2.8L III? That is about the size difference we are looking at and here is a visual comparison. I haven't seen a lens that wow'd me as much as the Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM Lens in a long time. Where is the rest of the lens? The size is so dramatically smaller that it will have an impact on the case or backpack this lens is carried in.
 
Interesting is that a tripod ring (hinge-removable) remains included. Is this an indication that weight will be moving forward, justifying the ring for proper balance? Or is the ring included because we expect a lens with these specs to have one, essentially checking the requirements box?
 
When the dust settles, I'll not likely care for the forward-positioned zoom ring and that this lens extends is not ideal. But, the considerably smaller size (the smallest Canon white L lens ever) should easily make up for those downsides. Note that this lens also has a rear-positioned control ring.
 
Here is a closer look at the new lenses.
 

 
Along with the RF 70-200, the RF 15-35 and RF 24-70 complete the RF f/2.8 lens "trifecta". These two similar-sized lenses appear to be slightly longer than the RF 24-105 (the spec will likely land at around 4.5" or 114mm) and will have a width very similar to the RF 24-105. Here is a current visual comparison with the RF 24-105. The wide-angle lens gets a very-welcomed extra 1mm of focal length on the wide end, making 15mm available with filter threads. It also adds image stabilization, a Canon first for full frame f/2.8 in this range. Additionally welcomed is that this lens appears to be slightly reduced in length and perhaps even more reduced in width.
 
The standard professional zoom lens does not get a focal length adjustment and the size appears not dramatially reduced, but the long-awaited image stabilization feature has arrived (woo hoo!).
 
With the RF 85 announced, we can directly compare the Canon RF 85mm to the Canon RF 50mm and see that the 85 is, as expected, a bit larger and heavier.
 
Only the second RF lens to be missing the red ring, the RF 24-240 relatively-affordably covers a huge range of focal length needs in a single lens, making it ideal for times when lens changes cannot be made, cannot be made quickly enough, or are simply not wanted to be made.
 
Still glaringly missing in the RF lineup is a value-priced general-purpose zoom lens. The RF 24-240 is positioned to be a great lower-budget option for all-around use, but although thin, it has a length similar to the RF 15-35 and RF 24-70 which does not completely align with the compactness of the EOS RP. Watch for at least one shorter-range option to arrive soon. It makes sense.
 
Lenses are a critical component of a camera system and the right lens can make a huge difference in the results and also in the ease in which those results are captured. Canon's new RF lens mount has obviously opened up new possibilities for lens designers and they are rolling out some of the best lenses ever. It's a great time to be a photographer.
 
 
A great set of rebates (up to $500) makes now an ideal time to add an R-series camera to the kit. The included Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R makes integration into an existing Canon kit easy. While I have access to evaluation cameras, I decided that I wanted my own R and recently added one to the kit.
 
The Canon EOS R is in stock at B&H | Adorama | Amazon USA | WEX
 
The Canon EOS RP is in stock at B&H | Adorama | Amazon USA | WEX

Image quality test results from the Canon EOS 7D Mark II have been added to the Sigma 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports Lens page.
 
The Sigma 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports Lens is in stock or coming soon at B&H | Adorama | Amazon US | WEX
 
Rent the Sigma 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports Lens from Lensrentals.

With the Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L USM Lens announced and coming soon and the similarly-purposed Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L USM DS Lens not being slated for delivery until the second half of the year, some need to make a buy or wait decision. In his usual clear and accurate style, Canon USA's Rudy Winston has explained the differences between these two lenses.
 
What are the differences between the Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L USM Lens and the Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L USM DS Lens?
 
Per Rudy:
 

• Reduced light transmittance:
  The Defocus Smoothing coatings in the 85mm F1.2 L DS lens will reduce actual light transmission by up to 1.5 stops, when the lens is at its widest aperture.
• Defocus Smoothing effect is aperture-dependent:
  The visual impact of softer-edged, out-of-focus highlights, is at its maximum when the DS lens is shot wide-open. The visual impact of Defocus Smoothing diminishes, vs. the RF 85mm F1.2 L lens, as the DS lens’ aperture is stopped-down, and essentially disappears if the lens is stopped-down several stops from wide-open.
• Depth-of-field is rendered differently:
  At wider lens apertures where the Defocus Smoothing effect is visible, for technical reasons, depth-of-field will appear deeper in shots taken with the DS lens, vs. identical shots taken with the RF 85mm F1.2 L USM lens.

Rudy provides additional information worth reading, but click on the two sample images that are shared in the article for comparison purposes. They should open in new tabs. Then click back and forth between the two tabs while observing changes.
 
The first observation to make is that the DS lens produces much smoother blurred lights in the background and this is the key advantage of this lens. While looking at those lights, you will likely notice that the non-DS lens' sample image has larger-sized blurred lights. However, the size difference may not be related to the non-DS vs. DS designs. Next notice the sharpness of the model's shoulders in the two images. That the front shoulder is sharper in the non-DS lens image and that the reverse is also true may indicate that the non-DS lens was focused to a closer distance, causing the blurred lights to be larger on this account.
 
Portrait photographers are going to love these lenses and Rudy's "Which lens is right for you?" section should be helpful to those selecting between the two.

Canon Japan has shared a pair of RF 85mm F1.2 L USM Lens sample images. Note the lack of color fringing in the white details and out of focus jewelry.
 
Canon USA also has a few sample pictures available. Click on the "Sample Images" link just above the "Features" section.
 
The Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L USM Lens is scheduled to be available in June and Amazon USA has put a date of June 20th on their product page. I don't know if that date is accurate or a complete guess, so use your discernment in that regard.
 
The Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L USM Lens is available for preorder at: B&H | Adorama | Amazon USA | Wex

Thanks to a development announcement, we knew that the Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L USM Lens was coming. Based on the performance of the Canon RF 50mm f/1.2L USM Lens (and all of the other RF lenses), we expected the RF 85 to be a great performer. Based on the RF 85's price, announced in the press release earlier today, that expectation was raised to a new level. And now, with the MTF chart strongly supporting that expectation, it is practically guaranteed that the RF 85 is going to be an amazing lens.
 
The Canon RF 85mm F1.2 L USM Lens is available for preorder at: B&H | Adorama | Amazon USA | Wex

When considering the addition of a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera to the kit, one of the concerns is the grip size. When reducing the size of a camera, the grip is an easy target. However, when the grip is made too small, the camera becomes harder to use.
 
I used calipers to very precisely measure the grip height from the bottom of the camera to the top edge of the useful grip area on the front of each camera, but note that there was a tiny amount of judgment to be made in the latter determination. The depth measurement was made at the thickest part of the grip that included the finger swell area on the front. Use the EOS 5D-series DSLR camera as a baseline to compare against.
 

Model	Height		Depth
Canon EOS 5Ds R	2.73"	(69.3mm)	2.79"	(70.9mm)
Canon EOS R	2.53"	(64.3mm)	2.65"	(67.3mm)
Nikon Z 6, Nikon Z 7	2.33"	(59.0mm)	2.63"	(66.7mm)
Sony a7 III, Sony a7R III, Sony a9	2.08"	(52.8mm)	2.40"	(60.8mm)

My hand size falls between medium and large. The Sony grip design requires that I use a pinky-under strategy. My pinky just fits on the Nikon Z 6 and Z 7 grip and my pinky comfortably fits on the Canon EOS R grip.
 
If the native grip size is not large enough for you, add the respective battery grip. For the Canon EOS R, that grip is the Canon Battery Grip BG-E22. Though not available as I write this, the MB-N10 Multi-Power Battery Pack has been promised for the Nikon Z 6 and Z 7 cameras. Sony a7 III, a7R III, and a9 cameras are compatible with the Sony VG-C3EM vertical grip. These Sony cameras are also compatible with the Sony GP-X1EM Grip Extension. While the battery grips add size and weight to cameras having light weight and small size as advantages, the grips are easily removable, offering the best of both worlds. I have used the Canon and Sony grips and like them a lot.
 
I do not have an EOS RP at this time, but if someone sends me the measurements, I'll add them to this comparison chart. The RP's grip is remarkably nice for the tiny size of this camera, but it has a pinky-under grip height with the Canon EG-E1 Extension Grip adding room for that last finger.
 
If you were considering the purchase of one of these camera models, now is a very good time to do so. Instant rebates ranging up to $1,000 for Sony, $700 for Nikon, and $500 for Canon are currently available. Please remember to use the links on this site to make all of your purchases! Use the links in the comparison table to navigate to the camera model you are interested in.

Image quality test results have been added to the Sigma 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports Lens page.
 
Can a lens with this extreme focal length range, even a Sigma Sports lens, produce good image quality?
 
The Sigma 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports Lens is in stock or coming soon at B&H | Adorama | Amazon US | WEX
 
Rent the Sigma 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports Lens from Lensrentals.
 
Please share these results with your friends!

Tilt-shift lenses from Canon, Nikon and Rokinon (Samyang) are now included in the site's Camera Lens MTF Measurements Comparison Tool.
 
The image shared on this post should get your attention!

A handful of Rokinon (Samyang) Lenses have been added to the site's Camera Lens MTF Measurements Comparison Tool.
 
Go make some comparisons!